South India

Alleppey

Alappuzha also known as Alleppey, is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India.

The average monthly temperature is 27C. The district gets the benefit of two seasonal monsoons, as in other parts of the state. Alappuzha town experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon influences the weather of Alappuzha. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in the months from June to September. On the other hand, the North-east monsoon brings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm.

Kovalam

Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India, located around 16 km south of the city center.

Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach.

Place of Interest : Karamana River - Karamana River originates from the southern part of Sahyadri Range. The river predominantly flows through an outskirt region of Kovalam called Karmana, hence the nomenclature.

Kumily

Kumily is the largest Gram Panchayat in Kerala. It is a town in Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District of Kerala. Kumily is known as Gateway to Thekkady and it is also known as spices capital of Kerala.

Place of Interest :
Kumily is always a special destination for most of the tourists due to its cool refreshing climate. Nearby Tamil Nadu district is Theni, where tourists can see grapes cultivations, Suruli Theertham, Megamalai, Kumabakarai, Vaigai dam etc. Kattappana is the nearby municipality.

Munnar

Munnar is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is situated at around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above mean sea level, in the Western Ghats range of mountains.

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer. Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the Sevenmallay region of Munnar.

Place of Interest :
The best time to visit Munnar is from October to April. Winter hits Munnar by the end of October and prevails for around 3 months. The temperature usually reaches negative degree Celsius by the month of December. During summer temperature varies from...

There are a large number of tourist spots in and around Munnar. Near Munnar Town Attukkad Waterfalls : Attukkad waterfall is a popular tourist destination located between Munnar and Pallivasal. The sight of panoramic waterfall and rolling hills.

Quilon

Kollam or Quilon, formerly Desinganadu, is an old seaport and city on the Laccadive Sea coast of Kerala, India.

Kollam Beach is also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach. It is one of the twin beaches of the city. The other is Thirumullavaram beach. Kollam Beach is 2 km from Kollam city. It is one of the top crowd-pulling beaches in Kerala. The beach also has a park of international standard. The Mahatma Gandhi Park was inaugurated on January 1, 1961 by the then Vice President of India, Zakir Hussein. So many eye-catching and entertainment stuffs are there in the park. A mermaid statue of height 10.6 metres (35 ft) stands at the center of the park. Kollam Corporation has started the construction of a marine aquarium at Kollam Beach which is the first of its kind in the state of Kerala. The Harbour Engineering Department is constructing the aquarium on the eastern side of the beach.

Trivandam

Thiruvananthapuram formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Kerala.

The city has a climate that borders between a tropical savanna climate and a tropical monsoon climate. The humidity is high and is the highest during the monsoon season. Thiruvananthapuram gets majority of the rain from the south-west monsoons and gets its first showers in early June. It also gets rain from the receding north-east monsoons in October. The lowest temperature in the city core recorded during winter was 16.4 °C on, and the highest temperature recorded in summer is 38.0 °C.

Place of Interest :
Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist hub in South India. Kovalam and Varkala are popular beach towns located near the city. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple circled by the East Fort is believed to be among the richest and grandest temples in India. Other places of interest include Shanghumukham, Azhimala Beach, Agasthyamala rain forests, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary,Kallar, Braemore, Ponmudi hills, Poovar and Anchuthengu backwaters, Varkala Cliffs and Kappil, Edava lakes. The city is also known for its unique style of architecture involving Kerala Architecture with British and Dravidian influences in Napier museum, Zoo buildings, Kuthiramalika and Kilimanoor Palaces.

Araku

Araku Valley is a Hill station in Visakhapatnam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by different tribes.

The train journey from Vizag to Araku is a memorable experience with 46 tunnels, several bridges through lush green valleys. Araku is famous for the mustard flowers that change the landscape of the valley from green to yellow in the months of November & December. Several accommodation facilities are available here. AP Tourism runs very good resorts in Araku, called Valley Resort (also called Yatri Nivas).

Araku is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Andhra Pradesh. September to October and March to May are the best seasons to visit Araku Valley.

Place of Interest :
Araku has some interesting places to visit including Borra caves, Tyda, Katiki Falls, Tribal Museum & Padmapuram Botanical Gardens. Besides, these the coffee plantations are a must visit for those who want to indulge themselves in the flavors of nature. The tourists can see tribal folk dances like Dhimsa and Mayuri. The Araku Tribal Museum houses rich tribal tradition and number of artifacts and displays related to Eastern Ghat Tribal Culture.

Rishikonda

Rushikonda is a neighbourhood situated on Visakhapatnam and Bheemili road. Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority undertakes the development activities related to infrastructure and tourism.

Rushikonda Beach is located in Visakhapatnam on the coast of Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The beach is maintained by the state tourism board, APTDC.

Located just 8 kilometres from the port city of Visakhapatnam, RushiKonda Beach is known as the Jewel of the East Coast. The unspoiled beauty of the beach is its main attraction and offers a unique opportunity to relax and enjoy the golden sands and gentle ocean currents. The beach is a haven for watersports lovers and is popular among windsurfers and jet skiers. However, it is the scenic beauty of the beach that lures visitors throughout the year, who come to enjoy spending time amidst greenery, golden sands and azure waters. The day the city celebrates the festival of colours, Holi, the beach gets transformed to a hue of vibrant colours, with people splashing color and water on each other.

Tirupati

Tirupati is a city in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The town of Tirupati is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage spots in India. The name 'Tirupati' means the "Lord of Lakshmi," and should have been applied to the village on the Venkat hill, the dwelling of Lord Venkateswara. However, Tirupati is the town and transport hub at the bottom of the hill. The hill near the temple is called 'Tirumala' or the "sacred hill." The temple here is said to be the busiest in the world, eclipsing even Rome, Jerusalem and Mecca in the number of pilgrims visiting it.

Monsoon remains moderate and summer experiences temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. In winter the minimum temperatures will be between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Usually summer lasts from March to June, with the advent of rainy season in July, followed by winter which lasts till the end of February.The city experiences maximum rainfall in November during northeast monsoon season.

Vizag

Visakhapatnam (nicknamed Vizag) is the largest city, both in terms of area and population in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the coast of Bay of Bengal in the north eastern region of the state.

It is situated between the Eastern Ghats to its west and the Bay of Bengal to its east, bordering on the north with the state of Orissa and Vizianagaram district and East Godavari District to the south. The city coordinates lies between 17.6883° N latitude, and 83.2186° E longitude. It's periphery consists of plains along the coast line while the interiors boast of the beautiful hills of the Eastern Ghats which surround it on the North and the West. This region is also called the Agency Division. It occupies an area of approximately 11,161 km2 (4,309 sq mi).

Bangalore

Bangalore, is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.

It is the seventh largest city in India. It is also known as the Garden City because of its many beautiful gardens and parks. The nandi hills in Bangalore is not to be missed by the pious. Though the origin of Bangalore is ancient, the present-day city was founded in the 16th century and has since continued to be an important administrative center. Because of the high concentration of IT industry, it also called the Silicon Valley of India. There are a number of good hotels in Bangalore like the Ashoka Hotel in Bangalore that make your stay in the Garden city comfortable.

Bangalore, the IT Hub of India is a city one can visit anytime of the year.

Place of Interest :
Bangalore city has a number of tourist places. Apart from the numerous gardens, it also has some historical sites and other places of interest. The Vidhan Soudha or the State Secretariat, built in 1954, is the main attraction of this city. It is a marvel of modern architecture and is a fine amalgamation of traditional Dravidian and modern styles. Cubbon Park, the 120-hectare park located near the Vidhan Soudha, has a number of neo-classical styled government buildings. The Government Museum of Bangalore (one of India's oldest museums) and the Visvesvaraya Technological and Industrial Museum are important museums within the city. The Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, which holds a number of flower shows, especially during the Republic Day (26th January), is located on the southern fringes of the city. The 18th-century Tipu Sultan's Fort and Palace are other important places of interest to the traveler. The 16th-century, Dravidian-styled temple dedicated to Nandi hills in Bangalore is an important place of worship. For all those religious visitors the nandi hills in Bangalore is not to be missed. The Venkataramanaswamy Temple, the Gavi Gangadhareswara cave temple, and the Someshwara Temple are other important temple of this city. The Ulsoor Lake on the northeastern edge of the city is an important picnic spot. Bangalore city is famous for it's numerous Yoga centers, where fitness freaks can learn and practice this ancient art of keeping healthy. Most of the good hotels in Bangalore are located close to the tourist spots like the Ashoka hotel Bangalore.

Mysore

Mysore officially renamed as Mysuru, is the third most populous and the third largest city in the state of Karnataka, India.

Mysore has a tropical savanna climate designated Aw under the Köppen climate classification. The main seasons are Summer from March to June, the monsoon season from July to November and winter from December to February. The highest temperature recorded in Mysore was 39.4 °C (103 °F) on 4 April 1917, and the lowest was 7.7 °C (46 °F) on 16 January 2012. The city's average annual rainfall is 804.2 mm (31.7 in).

The weather in Mysore is pleasant throughout the year.

Place of Interest :

St. Philomena's Church is one of the oldest churches in Mysore. Built in Gothic style, the church is among the largest in India. Stained glass windows and lofty towers give this cathedral an imposing look.

The Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the noted Hindu places of worship and is situated atop the Chamundi Hill. On way to the Chamundi Hills is the Lalitha Mahal, a guest palace now converted into a heritage hotel.

The Mysore Zoo was set up by the royal family and houses some rare and exotic birds & animals. Situated amidst lush green surroundings, the zoo has acquired fame for breeding some rare animals in captivity.

Coonoor

Coonoor is a Taluk and a municipality in the Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

One of the most beautiful and serene hill stations you will come across in the country, Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the wonderful Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It is situated at an altitude of 1930 meters and just 19 km from Ooty.

Coonoor is a delightful location to have a panoramic view of the Nilgiri Hills and the Catherine Falls. Coonoor is a dream come true for writers and poets due to its rich greenery, the manicured hills, the Colonial culture and amazing sceneries, which will leave you relaxed and inspired. While in Coonoor you can completely lose yourself to nature and its eternal beauty.

Place of Interest :

Spread in an area of 12 ha, Sim's Park has a collection of over 1,000 plant species. The botanical garden is partly developed in the Japanese style and derived its name from J. D. Sim, the secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. The key attraction of the park is the annual fruit and vegetable show held in May. 57th annual fruit show is to be held on 23 and 24 May 2015. Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint is 10 km from Coonoor and provides a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Nilgiri Hills and Catherine Falls. Tourists can trek from Lady Canning's Seat to Dolphin's Nose. Lamb's Rock, about 5½ km from Coonoor is another vantage point. Droog Fort is located a distance of 13 km from Coonoor and was once used by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. Law's Falls is a waterfalls located 5 km from Coonoor, on the way to Mettupalayam. Katary Falls has a power station.
Pomological Station is a research center of the State Agricultural Department for persimmon, pomegranates, and apricot. Pasteur Institute located near Sim's park, was started in 1907. This institute develops vaccination for rabies. The Government operates a Silk Farm, though this is largely a research facility. Recently, Floriculture and strawberry cultivation have taken root.

Chennai

Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The blue waters of Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands at the beaches of Chennai. Once being a small village of fishermen Chennai attained a significant place during the British Rule. It is one of the four metropolitan cities of India. Chennai has a lot to offer to tourists in the form of ancient temples and Museums, Churches and forts built during the British rule.

The best time to visit the capital of Tamil Nadu is the winters which sets in from November to February.

Place of Interest :

Marina Beach -
A place where you can feel yourself close to nature and enjoy the beauty of the sunset. It is a suitable place where you can release your tiredness of a busy day. Marina Beach is the 2nd longest beach in the World.

Anna Square -
Dr. C.N. Annadurai, the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was a highly noble person and very popular among the people of Tamil Nadu. Thousands of people visit at his 'Samadhi' (tomb) everyday to pay their respect.

Jain Temple -
The Jain Temple is completely different from the other temple in the city. The temple holds beautiful sculptures of Lord Mahavira, tirinthkaras and Lord Shantinath to whom the temple is dedicated.

Kanya Kumari

Kanyakumari About this sound pronunciation, also known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, is a town in Kanyakumari District in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.

Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here.

Due to its proximity to the sea, Kanyakumari enjoys a pleasant climate and can be visited throughout the year. However, the best season to visit this place would be between October and March. During summers, the temperature can rise to a high of 34.8°C while it can dip to a low of 20.4°C during winters.

Place of Interest :

Kanyakumari Temple -
The Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore, is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva's hand in marriage. The temple and the adjoining ghat, picturesquely situated overlooking the shore, attract tourist from all over the world. The diamond nose-ring of the deity is famous for its sparkling splendor said to be visible even from the sea.

Gandhi Memorial Mandapam -
The Gandhi Memorial Mandapam has been built on the spot where the urn containing the Mahatma's ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form, the memorial was designed in such a way that on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, the first rays of the sun fall on the exact place where his ashes were kept.

Tsunami Memorial Park -
Near Kanyakumari's southern shore stands a monument to the memory of those who died in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, an underwater megathrust earthquake that claimed around 280 000 lives in many countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Thailand, Maldives and Indonesia. People from places near and far visit this monument to pay homage to all those who lost their lives.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is a city in the hills of the Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest". Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination.

Place of Interest :

Kodaikanal Lake,
is an artificial, roughly star-shaped 45 ha (60 acres) lake built in 1863. It is recognized as Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club. Horses and bicycles can be hired beside the lake for short periods. The 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) path that skirts the periphery of this lovely lake is a favourite walk for the locals and tourists alike.

Bear Shola Falls,
3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the bus-stand, is a tall waterfall in a Reserve forest. The final approach to this quiet area is a gently climbing foot-path.

Green Valley View,
(formerly called Suicide Point) 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the bus-stand and near the golf course, has an excellent panoramic view of the plains and a sheer drop of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) overlooking the Vaigai Dam to the south. The stairway leading up to it is highly commercialized and lined with rows of shops to tempt tourists.

Pine forests,
In 1906, with a view to growing valuable timber, Mr. Bryant started the Kodaikanal pine plantations in the south-west of Kodaikanal.

Madurai

Madurai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District.

Madurai in south India is a beautiful city with treasures of heritage. The best time to visit the second largest city of Tamil Nadu is from October to March. These months are blessed with pleasant weather ideal for sightseeing, vacationing and outdoor activities. During the summer season, from March to June, it is extremely hot. Temperature go upto 41 degree Celsius hence it is not advisable to visit during this time. Medium to heavy rainfall is showered in the monsoon months, from July to August. It is best to avoid the seasons for the unbearable humidity and the uncomfortable sightseeing and adventures. The soothing winters optimizes the fun of your holiday.

Place of Interest :

Life in Madurai revolves around the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva are the main deities of the temple. The temple has 985 beautifully sculptured pillars that form the Thousand Pillar Mandapam Hall. Since ages the temple has been the center of Tamil culture, sponsoring literature, art, music and dance. The temple is worth more than a visit. The other prime attraction in Madurai is the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam. It hosts the annual float festival in the months of January and February. Lord Vigneshwara is the presiding deity at the tank.

Besides the temples the Tirumalai Naik palace is a must visit spot for the tourists. The Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and the Sound and Light shows add to the significance of the palace. Madurai also boasts of another old palace Gandhi Museum that has been dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. The ancient temple city of Madurai is now days renowned for its textile mills, engineering industries and large university areas.

Munnar, Thekkadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Palani Hills are other places of interest around Madurai. While in Madurai do check out the idlis, vadas and the filter coffee besides the fresh warm Thirumalveli halwa . In terms of shopping Madurai's Pudu Mandapam Market is the best place to check out the curios. Relax unwind yourself in the evenings at the Pottramarai tank and get entrapped in the magic of Madurai.

Ooty

Ooty is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 80 km north of Coimbatore and is the capital of the Nilgiris district. It is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills.

Ooty features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under Köppen climate classification. Despite its location in the tropics, in stark contrast with most of South India, Ooty generally features pleasantly mild conditions throughout the year. However, night time in the months of January and February is typically cold. Generally, the town appears to be eternally stuck in the spring season. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year; with average high temperatures ranging from about 17–20 °C (63–68 °F) and average low temperatures between approximately 5–12 °C (41–54 °F).
The highest temperature ever recorded in Ooty was 25 °C (77 °F), which by South Asian standards is uncharacteristically low for an all-time record high temperature. The rainy season in Ooty is generally very cool and windy with high humidity. The wind chill may fall to as low as 5 °C (41 °F) during the day time. Wind is always high throughout the year. The lowest temperature was −2 °C (28 °F). The city sees on average about 125 cm (49 in) of precipitation annually, with a marked drier season from December through March.

Pondicherry

Pondicherry is the capital city and the largest city of the Indian union territory of Puducherry. The city of Pondicherry is situated in Puducherry district of the union territory.

The climate of Pondicherry is classified by Köppen-Geiger system as tropical wet and dry (As), similar to that of coastal Tamil Nadu. Summer lasts from April to early June, when maximum temperatures frequently hit the 41 °C (106 °F) mark. The average maximum temperature is 36 °C (97 °F). Minimum temperatures are in the order of 28–32 °C (82–90 °F). This is followed by a period of high humidity and occasional thundershowers from June till September.
The northeast monsoon sets in during the middle of October, and Pondicherry gets the bulk of its annual rainfall during the period from October to December. The annual average rainfall is 1,240 mm (49 in). Winters are warm, with highs of 30 °C (86 °F) and lows often dipping to around 18–20 °C (64–68 °F).

Though Pondicherry (Puducherry) is known to have a warm climate but the best time to visit Pondicherry is between the months of October and March.

Place of Interest : Beach Promenade, Mahatma Gandhi's Statue, Pondicherry beach viewed from light house, French War Memorial, Park Monument (Aayi Mandapam) in the Government Park, Bharati Park (Government Park), The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pondicherry, The Church of Our Lady of Angels, Goubert Avenue, Pondicherry, India, Puducherry Tamil house etc.

Rameswaram

Rameswaram, is a town and a second grade municipality in the Ramanathapuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is the Linga Of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to as the 'Benaras of the south'. In order to attain Moksha it is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory.

As Rameshwaram boasts of a tropical climate, it is a year-round destination of India. But, the best time to visit Rameshwaram is between the months of October to April.

Tiruchirappalli

Tiruchirappalli also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District.

Famous for its harsh summers and mild winters, Thiruchirappalli or, Trichy as it is called has temperatures that range from 37.10 °c to 26.4 °c in summers to 31.30° c to 20.60 °c in winters. Thus, the best time to visit the region would be the months of November to march when the weather remains pleasantly cool and conducive to the diascovert of the natural beauty of Trichy.

Place of Interest :

Rock Fort Temple : Often regarded as the landmark of Trichy, this beautiful Thayumanaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is adorned with a 100-pillar hall and a vimana covered with gold. Coupled with these are the exquisite architectural masterpieces of the Pallava period, that adorn the walls of the temple and which, add up to make this one of the principle tourist attractions of Trichy.

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam : Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the most revered deities of Hinduism, this beautiful temple is located around 6 kms north of Trichy and is a visual delight thanks to its walls which are adorned with sculptures depicting several of the deities of Hinduism.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of the southern Indian state of Telangana and de jure capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The City of Pearls, Hyderabad retains its charm throughout the year. The weather of the capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is a little warm throughout the year with exception of the chilly months. The best time to visit is the lovely winter season. The chilly weather starts from December to February. Summers are rough. Temperatures go upto 45 degree Celsius. It's the most uncomfortable time. The monsoon is a relief in weather but a dampener on travel plans. The bearable 20-25 degree Celsius of the winters is the best time to explore the city of intriguing attractions, gastronomical pleasures, exciting shopping and delightful holidays. Make plans from November to February.